Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 33.djvu/330

 326 Southern Historical Society Papers.

the Landrum House to the Salient, Birney's division still remain- ing with General Burnside. Gibbon's and Barlow's divisions now traversed the same ground which we had fought so desperately on six days since, and as but a portion of the dead of that day's contest had been buried, the stench which arose from them was so sickening and terrible that many of the men and officers be- came deathly sick from it. The appearance of the dead who had been exposed to the sun so long was horrible in the extreme as we marched past and over them, a sight never to be forgotten by those who witnessed it.

"At 4:10 A. M. Gibbon and Barlow moved forward to the as- sault, their troops in line of brigades. My artillery was posted in the first line of works, firing during the action over our troops in front.

"As soon as our lines came within range we were received with a most destructive fire of musketry and artillery from the enemy, who was snugly fixed in heavy intrenchments protected by abatis. Our men gallantly rushed on until they came to the edge of this abatis, which was so heavy and firm that they could not penetrate it under the fire, and our lines stood at that point delivering their fire until 10 o'clock, when we were withdrawn, it being found im- practicable to carry the position and our losses were heavy in this assault in killed and wounded. The Sixth corps attacked at the same time with us on their right, with the same result."

General Frances C. Barlow, page 369 of Records, says: "At- tacked the enemy's left May i8th."

General John R. Brooke, Barlow's division, of Hancock's corps, page 411 of Records, says: "At 10 A. M. moved forward in sup- port of Second and Third brigades, which were ordered to attack the enemy. Occupied the position taken on the i2th, and re- mained there. No fighting done by brigade, though exposed to a heavy artilley fire throughout the day, losing heavily in officers and men. The assault made on our part of the line was not suc- cessful."

Major-General John Gibbon, of Hancock's corps, pages 431 and 432 of Records, says: "At daylight on the i8th, the division was in position at the breastworks taken on the I2th, ready for an- other assault on the enemy's interior line. The Corcoran Legion, Col- onel Matthew Murphy, Sixty-ninth regiment, New York National Guard Artillery, commanding, had the day before joined the army